Category: Blog

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Blog Occurrences Running Sports Writing

Zen and the Insanity of Running

Yesterday I ran further than I can recall in recent memory. The last time I ran more than 20 miles was six years ago to the day when I finished the Motorola Marathon in Austin, Texas.

So I laced up my shoes and headed toward Central Park. I initially intended to run to a nearby borough – The Bronx or Queens, perhaps, but as I traversed the trees of the North Woods, I decided to detour south, cutting through to Columbus Circle.

” The Brooklyn Bridge,” I thought. “I’ll run across the Brooklyn Bridge.”

The cereal and granola bars in my stomach were getting tossed around with each step and I needed something to level the balance of food. A hot dog fit the bill perfectly. I dug two dollars out of my kangaroo pouch in my running tights in exchange for some red and yellow tube steak.

With zip in my step I started down Broadway again following the green path between traffic and the sidewalk. It was here that I noticed a bicyclist who was keeping pace with me quite well. We matched each other through Times Square but I lost him shortly after Herald Square. Oh well, I thought brushing him off.

I continued past the Flat Iron building, through Chinatown and finally reached a bridge. But to my dismay it was The Manhattan Bridge.

“Maybe I’ll just cross this one instead,” I thought. “No…I’m not quitting now.”

Finally I approached the Brooklyn Bridge as I weaved between photographers and tourists the massive cables ran overhead. The wooden planks that carry you across the East River provide a nice change from the hard concrete and asphalt of the city.

I am not familiar with most of Brooklyn so I knew that I would have to zen it. It’s a combination of a good sense of direction and wandering about aimlessly. I use this quite often.

I remember running down Flushing Avenue until I arrived at Metropolitan Avenue when I realized I was lost. A sign pointing east toward Long Island was a pretty good indication. I had intended to zen toward the northwest part of the island, when in fact I was running northeast. The good news about getting lost is that your ability to zen only improves.

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Blog Music

The Soft Pack Storms New York City

The San Diego native rockers are bringing their unique mix of punk and classic rock sounds to New York City starting this Friday. The band will by playing a free show at The Cake Shop for their cd released Tuesday. The show is open to all ages and best of all it’s free. The party kicks off Friday evening at midnight, but expect to wait in line for a couple of hours before.

Also on Friday at noon, tickets go on sale for their two shows. The first is on Thursday, April 1 at The Mercury Lounge. This is a 21+ show. The second show is Saturday, April 3 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Both shows are $12 and should sell out quickly.

For those of you not familiar with The Soft Pack, here are two tracks that are sure to please. The first is their single off their self-titled album. The second is a eerie cover of Phoenix’s Fences. The haunting vocals and muffled sound make it sound reminiscent of early recordings by The Rolling Stones.

Answer to Yourself

Fences (Phoenix Cover)

Still want more? Then stream their new album for free online.

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Blog Occurrences Photography Writing

Dr. Frankenstein’s Metal Monster

I was walking to dinner this evening when I noticed something sitting at the foot of a lamppost. It was the unmistakable suitcase that holds typewriters. Given my affinity for typewriters, I immediately investigated the scene of the crime.

DCPI Report:
On Saturday, January 23, 2010 at approximately 1756 hours police responded to the corner of West 112th Street and Broadway Avenue within the confines of the 26 Precinct in regards to an unconscious typewriter. Upon arrival police discovered an electric typewriter with lacerations to the body of the keyboard. The victim, a T/B/40’s, was unconscious inside of a trashcan at the location. EMS responded and pronounced the typewriter DOA at 1808 hours. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death, the investigation is ongoing at this time.


Family notification is pending for the deceased.

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Blog Music

Shows to Catch in the Spring of 2010

One of my new year’s resolutions was to see more live shows. What a better place to do that then New York City. I scoured some of the popular venues and while I’m sure I didn’t find all the bands, here are a few that shouldn’t be missed.

Hot Chip – $35

Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Goes on sale Friday, 1/22)
Friday, April 23 at Terminal 5 (Tix on sale)

These British dance/hip-hop/electronic group has an ever-evolving sound that is contagious. I’m curious to see how they’ll transform with their next album as they have over the past four albums. Formed in 2000, these guys have been nominated for a Grammy Award.
Hold On

Justice – $45

Friday, Feb. 12 at Terminal 5 (Sold Out)

The French DJ duo made it big after their debut release (Cross) in 2007. They have since hit the festival circuit playing Treasure Island Music Festival in San Francisco and Coachella in Indio, Calif. Their much anticipated sophomore album is supposed to drop sometime in 2010.
B.E.A.T. (D.A.N.C.E. Remix)

Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears – $13

Thursday, Feb. 25 at The Bowery Ballroom (Tix on sale)

The Austin blues band formed in 2007 finally got their big break during the 2009 SXSW music festival and have been selling out shows around the country since. Definitely a band to watch in the next few years.
Someone Loves Me

Cage the Elephant – $15

Tuesday, March 2 at The Bowery Ballroom (Tix on sale)

The Bowling Green, Kentucky natives are one the few good rock bands to arrive on the music scene in recent years. Like many other bands, they got their big break after playing SXSW in Austin and went on to play last year’s Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn. They also appeared on my Top 30 Tunes of 2009.
Aint No Rest for the Wicked

Continue reading “Shows to Catch in the Spring of 2010”

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Blog Music

If This Journalism Thing Doesn't Work Out

When I was killing some time while working on my masters program I downloaded a DJ program and started to mix some songs from my iTunes playlist. I came up with this interesting compilation. It’s only my first stab at mixing songs, yet the compilation is representative of my musical ADD. You can right click on the bottom link to download the file or just listen below.

January 15, 2009

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Blog Occurrences Photography Writing

A Change of Heart and Home

Driftwood, Texas is no New York City. But for better or worse, it was my home for 18 years until I moved to Boston for my undergraduate studies. I have lived the majority of my life in the house that my father built. This year my return home during Christmas and New Years was not what I anticipated. I expected to have a relaxing and enjoyable time, but I was left bored more than anything else.

While it was nice seeing my family a few friends from high school, I spent the majority of my time trying to keep myself occupied on our 10-acre plot of land, while holding onto what little sanity remained after the majority of it was ripped from my soul by the Journalism School.

While it feels good to be back in New York City, I cannot shake the feeling that for the first time in my life Texas no longer feels like home. It’s sad, but I guess its just a sign that I’m changing as a human being. Even as I change, I still maintain some of the characteristics of my youth. As my father always says, “You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.”

Mother Nature has a way of cleansing herself through disaster. In the case of my family, Onion Creek – named for the wild green onions that grow its’ banks – will flood, destroying whatever gets in its path. I’ve witnessed flood waters carry away livestock, cars and homes, throwing them around like they were toys. Now a flood of emotions overtake me in the new decade as I finish my latest journey and start a new one. Where I’ll finally wash up is still to be determined.

Debris from years of flooding.
Debris depositing after years of flooding.
Onion Creek marks the southern boundary of our property line.

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Blog Occurrences Skateboarding Sports Writing

The Hazards of Skateboarding

So I took my skateboard out for a spin after taking a three week hiatus and no more than 5 minutes after I took off, I hit a patch of gravel that twisted my board cock-eyed. The laws of motion sent me flying off my board and hitting the asphalt road hard. My primary concern, however, was not my own safety, but the safety of my board. The last thing I want is for my board to get snapped by some absent-minded motorist.

I peeled myself off the pavement and scrambled to catch my board which was rolling backwards into oncoming traffic. After saving my board I investigated my own injuries. I shredded the palm of my right glove and have a nasty strawberry underneath it on my hand. Then I pulled up the left sleeve of my hoodie to reveal that some of the skin just below my elbow had been removed.

With adrenaline pumping through my body, I decided to persevere to Central Park and bomb the hill at 108th Street. I climbed to the top of the hill and tucked in as I carved the massive hill, my hair blowing in the wind.

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Blog

The Well of Death and the Power of Centripetal Force

Ah the carnival. Nothing would excite me in my youth quite like the thrill rides one finds at the carnival – the Tilt A’ Whirl, the Tornado, or even the tried and true roller coaster. But instead of wandering a field in Texas, cotton candy in hand, what if you came upon the Well of Death, a pit 100 feet deep lined with wooden planks. A blank-faced crowd of Indians stands around as if this sight is common. Inside the Well of Death are multiple motorcycles, sometimes cars, who use centripetal force to stick to the sides as the riders let go of their hands and inhibitions. The breeze blowing through their clothes and hair as they whirl around in circles. This is not only dangerous for the daredevils but the audience as well.

Now I know you’re probably thinking that I really don’t know a damn thing about physics and you’re right. I haven’t had a science class since high school and that education was shaky at best. One thing I  do remember that my Integrated Physics and Chemistry teacher, Mr. Morey, taught me was the difference between centripetal and centrifugal force, as they are commonly confused. Centripetal is the inward force that keeps an object moving in a continuous circle, i.e. why the riders don’t just fly off into space. The main force is the wood pushing back on the tires of the daredevils’ roaring machines.

As the riders move in circles, they elicit reactions from the crowd. I always told myself if the whole journalism thing didn’t work out that I would love nothing more than to be a racecar driver. I’ve always pushed the natural limits of speed. I would barrel down hills in Austin on my longboard with nothing to protect me from the black asphalt wave should I find myself underneath it when it breaks.

That is no different when driving a car. Living in Houston made me a speed-demon behind the wheel. How would a reasonable person react to eight lanes of concrete opening up to them? I would push my car to its limit again and again. Finally my luck ran out when I took a friend on assignment to a city council meeting in Splendora, Texas.

“I’m unlucky,” she said.

She wasn’t kidding. I was pulled over doing 85 in a 55. As I fumbled for my license and insurance card, she leans over and said, “Oh, by the way I have a warrant out for my arrest, so try and play it cool.”

Great. Not only am I late for work, am gonna get a monster speeding ticket, but I’m harboring a fugitive as well. Curse my wretched luck.

The point is that without pushing ourselves to the limit, one cannot find what scares them. I was scared at the moment when the cop pulled me over, having never had a run-in with the law for 23 years. I’m sure the men that enter the Well of Death feel fear, but its what keeps us human.

But physics lesson aside it is shocking to see the kinds of stunts these men are willing to perform.

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Blog Occurrences Writing

Two Roomies and a Typewriter

A couple of nights ago, my roommate Rick and I were drinking beer when we decided to whip out my typewriter, a 1964 Smith Corona Classic 12. Light Blue. Full manual. Rick and I are both writers – him the creative nonfiction type and me the reporter – so we decided to collaborate on an impromptu piece of creative journalism.

I started typing to show him how to use the metal brute. After a couple of quick lines, I plopped the typewriter in his lap.

it;s so he avy this typewriter
doyou want to put it on the floor.
nnah. it feels good.

Clacking keys on a manual typewriter is unlike any other form of writing. You realize the struggles that plagued writers of the past. Typing isn’t smooth and fluid like on a keyboard, it’s a pecking frenzy that leaves your hands twisted as they try and keep up with your mind.

Occasionally you’ll miss a space or hit half a letter in the quest to complete a sentence. But let the fingers warm up and watch the words pop as steel slaps ink on a page.

There is no delete key, only a backspace which can be used to turn r’s to n’s and p’s to g’s. When you screw up bad enough, you have to rip out the page and start anew. No wonder writers of the past were so damn good. One draft is never enough. The rewriting process is decided by the nature of the machine.

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Blog Music

Top 30 Tunes of 2009: Listen Here

2009 was a year where the norm was turned upside down. We saw a regime change in Washington, D.C. Michael Jackson’s death almost crashed the internet. And people lost their marbles over the flu.

Music was no exception. We saw the formation of supergroups like Monsters of Folk, Them Crooked Vultures and The Dead Weather. Long-time rockers like The Flaming Lips, Weezer and Pearl Jam all released solid albums. There were also quite a few newcomers to the scene that helped amp up the last few months of 2009.

Here are my top 30 tunes of the year. You can listen them below. Now that is music to my ears.

30). Bulletproof by La Roux Synthesizers and 80’s styled hair-dos are making a comeback.


29). Sagittarrius Silver Announcement by The Flaming Lips Looking forward to this band’s next live history performance.


28). Man Named Truth by Monsters of Folk This unlikely supergroup is a throwback to the days of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and CSNY.


27). Revelry by Kings of Leon This Tennessee band of brothers settles into their sound on Only By the Night.


26). Panic Switch by Silversun Pickups More than just a one-hit wonder.


25). Bounce (ft. N.O.R.E. and Isis) by MSTRKRFTYou can’t help but let your body bounce to the beat.


24). Back Round by Wolfmother The sophomore album from the Aussie rock trio shows a maturation in their style.


23). The Fear by Lily Allen:Vulgar, offensive and dead on.


22). Pursuit of Happiness (ft. MGMT and Ratatat) by Kid Cudi The perfect song for the end of the night.


21). Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare by Matt and Kim The Brooklyn duo belts out a haunting good ol’ fashioned drum beat.

Continue reading “Top 30 Tunes of 2009: Listen Here”